What is with childless people parking in family spots!!!

[Asher09]

I have a toddler and a baby - so thats 2 car seats and a double pram. I genuinly need a fair bit of space when parking and recently I've seen so many people without children parking in the family spots - its so frustrating!

Surely family spots are there for a reason - they're closer to entrances and allow more space to get in and out. Its so helpful to a parent!
When inconsiderate people park there without thinking it leaves me driving around with a screaming toddler and a crying baby trying to find a decent spot where I have some room - some car parks have such narrow spots its impossible to get my kids in and out without hitting a car.

I've caught some people in the act, and have confonted them 'Hey I think you've left your kids in the car' but no one thinks they sre doing anything wrong or should move.

I think family spots should have the same rules as disabled spots. Just don't know how that would be implimented.

I very rarely used a parent and child space when my daughter was a baby - it really wasn't an issue to use one of the other parking spaces, and I'm not aware that I ever damaged anyone else's car getting my daughter out - I made sure that there was enough room to get the car seat out when I parked.

What did really make me angry was parking at my Mum's local supermarket when she was in the last years of her life and was very frail and disabled, with a blue badge. It was a real treat for her to get out and go round the supermarket, albeit at a snail's pace and with a lot of support, but there were only four spaces for disabled people, whereas there were about 20 for parents with children. There were several occasions when all four disabled spaces were occupied, often without blue badges on display, and I parked in one of the parent and child spaces because it was too far for my mum to walk from the main part of the car park. On at least three occasions, we got a barrage of abuse from women with children who had either wanted the space we had parked in, or just decided to have a go at me for using one of the parent and child spaces for a disabled 90 year old when they seemed to think that having more space to get their children out of the car was more important.

"If the P&C space is closer than the closest disabled bay, you bet your bottom dollar I am parking in it."

100% fair enough. But would you do it if it was the same distance just to be a dick? I think that's the difference here.

Obviously if a disabled person needs the space that's absolutely fine. It's people that use them just because "they are not legally enforceable" and they take that little bit of pleasure in making a harassed parents life harder, because "they coped just fine" that I can't understand.

@potato57

"It's interesting how much people judge each other on age.

When I had long covid a parent spot would have been really useful to me since I really struggled to get enough oxygen in and breathe safely outdoors, especially in winter, and shortening the time by being close to the supermarket would have really helped. But there's no way I would have taken one. Apparently it's okay for elderly people to be entitled to a parent spot though. Edited"

As your own ageism amply proves.

Because they've had children and feel that this should give them priority over anybody else who happens to be in a supermarket car park.

I also know of/see plenty of blue badge owners who had a reason to have one 5 years ago for an injury for eg, but never returned them! That's a whole other discussion but adds to this problem.

How odd, seeing as the badge is only issued for 3 years at a time.

Disabled spaces are far far far more important than parent and child spaces!!!!

Did you become physically unable to walk when you gave birth?

How very tragic.

It is entirely different from disabled parking and to equate the two shows huge ignorance and entitlement.
You are experiencing minor inconvenience, not being left unable to park and shop.
If I was still able to drive I would happily park my car in a parent parking space if I needed to.
Hell, I might even do it for fun because the entitlement of parents vs single people needs a bit of balance from time to time.

Perfect example of the being a dick just for fun brigade:
"If I was still able to drive I would happily park my car in a parent parking space if I needed to.
Hell, I might even do it for fun because the entitlement of parents vs single people needs a bit of balance from time to time."

What??? The poster says she’s happy to walk further, but she needs the extra space to get the car seat out and have a toddler next to her.

I do it sometimes.

I have limited movement in one knee, which makes it near impossible to get out of the car unless I can open the door to the max. I can walk ok, so not eligible for a disabled badge.

If I can't find a space where there's enough room for me to get out of the car, and loads of empty P&C spaces, I'll park in one of those.

And I cursed the fucker who parked so close to me in Tesco the other week that I couldn't get in my car, and had to ask someone to drive it out of the space. I'm half minded to use the P&C spaces all the time now.

I really don't know why you are getting slammed here OP. I totally agree with you. Prior to kids I would never have considered parking in a parent and child spot, they are there to make a young family's day that little bit easier. Those who are calling OP entitled.... pot, kettle, black? You are saying just because they aren't enforceable you have a right to park there... OK. You have every right to be an asshole!

many people have explained why they want/need/require a wider space for their car. And many of those are health (and age) related. They are not assholes (or even arseholes) they are making the best of their situation. If people really want better enforced P&C parking, lobby your shops for it. And ask for them to be at the far end of the car park so the lazy fuckers don't use them.

Another week, another P&C space debate.

I'll just say what I always say - there should be wider spaces available (at an (increased) cost) for anyone who thinks they need them. I bet the increased cost will make them realise that they don't need them really.

You might want more space to get a child out of a car seat but you don't need to be any nearer the entrance. Just hold their hand to stop them running into traffic. I see a pp said there were complaints about the spaces being further away when they were moved. People should be glad they are getting a few more steps for their daily step counts!

Disabled people DO need to be nearer the entrance.

And as an aside, online shopping is also available.

@LakieLady that's fair enough.
FWIW I had an experience when my (now big) twins were about 13 months where people had parked close on both sides. The only way I could have got them in was by squeezing in myself and driving the car forward whilst leaving them in their buggy. Obviously I couldn't just do that because they would have freaked out thinking I was leaving them somewhere alone. So we had to wait about 25 minutes until a traffic warden happened to come along so that I could ask her to wait with the buggy and keep them calm while I pulled the car out.
I don't use them now because I don't need them but yes, sometimes parents DO need the space. Just like you did with your knee.
So fuck off to all the dicks who use them just out of spite. I hope a parent scrapes up your car sometime when they haven't got enough space.

Blue badges are not issued for temporary injuries.

They may be issued if someone has cancer (which hopefully will be temporary) in some cases.

I have 3 kids and never used parent and child.

Did use it while heavily pregnant and struggling to walk due to severe pelvic issues but never needed them just because I have kids.

OMG, you still don't get it, do you?

Disabled drivers are not "just as inconvenienced" by inconsiderate drivers as parents. They are much more "inconvenienced" because, for them, the blue badge parking spaces are about necessity and not convenience.

The two are not remotely comparable and I'm not sure why you keep trying to draw an equivalence. One is a must-have, the other is a nice-to-have.

Yep, you're right. They have explained very well why they need a blue badge space. Not why they need to park in a space which has been designenated for another subsection of the community.

I spent years taking my mobility impaired grandmother out every Saturday for nosey to the shops. She, a blue badge holder, would have been mortified if I had used a p&c spot. We waited for a suitable space. Simple!

Apparently it's okay for elderly people to be entitled to a parent spot though

Yes it absolutely is.

Long covid is a disability so you could have applied for a blue badge.

I spent years taking my mobility impaired grandmother out every Saturday for nosey to the shops. She, a blue badge holder, would have been mortified if I had used a p&c spot. We waited for a suitable space. Simple

Of course you did. If you have a blue badge you can park elsewhere as well, eg on yellow lines. You don't need to queue for disabled bays.

I hate this place.

🤣

I don’t generally use them… well unless there are loads empty, it’s raining etc.
The extra space is to get the car seat out isn’t it? They are handy and yes I’ve been there you have to park further away and park on the end so nobody parks so close you can’t open the door wide enough to get the car seat back in.
I’ve used them for DM too, she has a blue badge and struggles to walk so if the disabled spaces are full, I’m going in.

Cars are so big these days, the spaces aren’t getting any bigger though. Sometimes I can barely slide in to my seat!

Of course P&C spots don't need legislation attached to them. That's a ridiculous suggestion. It's perfectly possible as a parent to manage without them, they are nothing more than a courtesy/ marketing ploy.

If you or your kids are disabled and need more space because of that, then apply for a blue badge. Otherwise, learn to manage in a normal space like most people do, or park further away and walk.

look if you don't understand that a temporary disability (broken leg) or simply being old and needing to open the door fully require a wider space, just ask.

rather than saying something silly.

It’s not odd. It’s blue badge fraud. It happens.